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Realism Laptop | Icon | Tutorial

The Realism Laptop is a great icon tutorial for mock ups and the display of information in a professional container. I used this one alot and I think it works great. In this tutorial we go through the rectangle tool the ellipse tool, the gradient tool and fill adn stroke patterns.

Firstly we create we’ll activate the Rectangle Tool and create a rectangle. Then we’ll select the round nodes at the top right hand corner of the newly formed shape. Pull those nodes down whilst {HOLDING CTRL + SHIFT} so that the roundedness (if thats a word lol) is equal and proportionate.

Oblong/Rectangle Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 2

Next we’ll duplicate the rectangle with {CTRL + D} .Then scale the shape in so that first rectangle becomes the outside of the laptop and this rectangle becomes the bevel.

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 3

Duplicate the bevel rectangle and drag downwards holding {CTRL} to keep it in the same horizontal position.

Next Activate the Node Tool and in the Tools Controls Box area select the option/button “Convert Object to Path”.

Nodes Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 4

Select the bottom 4 nodes {HOLD SHIFT} while selecting. and make sure “Show Transformational Handles for Selected Nodes” is active.

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 5

For this step of the Realism Laptop, drag/scale the selected nodes along the horizontal axis {HOLDING SHIFT and CTRL} While scaling.

This will create the top part of the keyboard.

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 6

We’ll then duplicate the bezel rectangle and drag it below the keyboard shape. This will form the base of the keyboard.

we will activate the Bezier Tool and then draw a horizontally straight line, to cut the duplicated rectangle. about 2 thirds up the shape.

You can use the select tool bottom transformational handle and push upward to “squash” the shape. This will be the keyboards base and it will make it thiner in appearance and thus more a modern looking laptop.

Selection Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 8

You can then create a new rectangle that will be a silver metallic strip to separate the top of the keyboard form its base. Whilst drawing the rectangle you can hold {CTRL} to make

it scale straight across the face of the laptop. After you have the correct size rectangle as seen in the screen-shot above, go ahead and round the edges like the first step proportionally.

Oblong/Rectangle Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 9

Using the Elipse Tool, we are going to create the camera concentric circles. The first circle will be gray and the second black. You can {HOLD CTRL and SHIFT} While scaling to keep the circles “perfect”. Remember to duplicate the first circle and scale in as seen above.

Then Group both circles with {CTRL +G}. Then {HOLD SHIFT} and select the Laptop Bevel Rectangle. Navigate to FILE MENU -> OBJECT -> ALIGN and DISTRIBUTE. Once there make sure “Last Selected” is selected in the drop down menu and choose the alignment option “Center of Vertical Axis”.

This will center the camera in the middle of the laptop. Screen.

Ellipse/Circle ToolAlignment and Distribution Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 10

Duplicate the Bevel Rectangle. Then we’ll navigate to FILE MENU -> PATH -> INSET. Do this twice or once depending on your size canvas.

Boolean Modes Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 12

Activate the Gradient Tool, click on the white and then click pull downwards the shape to create the lens/ screen sheen that you see in the above screen shot. You may need to toggle opacity in the Fill and Stroke Dialogue Box to get the best look at of the the sheen.

I cut the sheen in a diagonal line using the Boolean Mode “Division”. But how you create the sheen is purely on preference and what you feel looks better at the end of the day.

Boolean Modes ToolGradient Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 13

For this step we are going to make the metal strip between the keyboard base and top a bit more interesting/pronounced. Firstly we are going to duplicate it with {CTRL + D} and then we are going to scale it in and down as you seen it in the screenshot above. Then we are going to give it a darker gray and in the HSL slider in the Fill and Stroke Dialogue Box (if you acidentally closed it navigating to FILE MENU -> OBJECT -> FILL and STROKE).

Then we are going to blur it from the same dialogue to 0.2%.

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 14

For this 14th step we are going to create a rectangle using a Rectangle Tool. The rectangle is to have straight corners (not rounded like the ones before).

we are going to place them within the silver bar as seen in the screenshot above.

Next we’ll activate the Gradient Tool and fade fro black to transparency on the horizontal axis. Remember to {HOLD CTRL} while doing this to keep the gradient straight.

Then duplicate with {CTRL+D) the box, flip it and place it on the opposite side of the metal strip.

Oblong/Rectangle ToolGradient Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 15

Moving on to the base of the laptop keyboard we want to create a gradient and grilled type of pattern to create some interest.

For the gradient we’ll make it and a simple linear gradient. Moving vertically from back to gray. going up. And for the pattern we are going to duplicate the base we created earlier 3 times:

For the solid colour

The other for the pattern

For the opacity overlay.

For the pattern section we will navigate to the Fill and Stroke Dialogue Box {CTRL + SHIFT + F} if you have closed it.

Select the button that is called “Pattern”. and select the “checkerbox pattern”.

The checkerpoints. will be too big for the grill effect so we’ll need to scale them down. to do this will need to first double click the shape. This will reveal tow nodes to the top right of shape. As seen in the screenshot above. A Circle and a Square Node. The Circle is for rotation and Square is for scale. {HOLDING CTRL + SHIFT} We are going to push the square upwards, and this will reduce the size of the squares in the pattern.

Gradient Tool

Realism Laptop Icon Screen 17

Following from the last step from our last duplicate we are going reduce to opacity to 30% and then place it over our pattern as seen above.

Lastly we are going to create an elliptical blur or o.5% under the laptop, using the Ellipse Tool and the Fill and Stroke Tool.

Concluding we will select the entire laptop minus the recent blur and duplicate with {CTRL + D} Then we unify the new shape FILE MENU ->PATH -> UNION and invert it along the horizontal axis. Activate the Gradient Tool click and pull and downloads to full transparency. You may need to toggle the opacity until you find the right look.